Conductive Tire Liner for Inductive Loop Vehicle Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing traffic control systems using inductive loops struggle to detect vehicles with insufficient metallic presence or high ground clearance, such as bicycles, motorcycles, and wheelchairs, leading to incomplete traffic signal activation and potential safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A passive, compact, and inexpensive tire liner made of electrically conductive material, like aluminum wire mesh, is placed inside a vehicle's tire to interact with the electromagnetic field of the inductive loop, simulating the presence of a detectable vehicle and activating the sensor without active circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an active electronic circuit simulator is used to simulate vehicle presence, then detection capability for undetectable vehicles is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the active electronic circuit system with a passive mechanical/conductive tire liner that interacts with the electromagnetic field through its physical presence and conductive properties, eliminating the need for complex electronic components while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The tire liner is made from inexpensive conductive materials that can be easily manufactured and replaced, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive active electronic simulators while maintaining sufficient functionality for vehicle detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If an active electronic circuit simulator is used to simulate vehicle presence, then detection capability for undetectable vehicles is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The tire liner is made from inexpensive conductive materials that can be easily manufactured and replaced, providing a cost-effective alternative to expensive active electronic simulators while maintaining sufficient functionality for vehicle detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the active electronic circuit system with a passive mechanical/conductive tire liner that interacts with the electromagnetic field through its physical presence and conductive properties, eliminating the need for complex electronic components while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If conventional inductive loop sensors are used, then detection of detectable vehicles is maintained, but detection of undetectable vehicles fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle detection accuracyVSAvoidvehicle type compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive tire liner acts as an intermediary between the vehicle and the inductive loop sensor, creating an electromagnetic interaction that enables undetectable vehicles to be detected while maintaining compatibility with existing sensor infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the electromagnetic parameters of the vehicle by introducing a conductive tire liner that modifies the vehicle's interaction with the inductive loop's electromagnetic field, enabling detection across different vehicle types including those previously undetectable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the detection of undetectable vehicles by traffic control systems, ensuring safe and unobstructed traffic flow while being lightweight, easy to use, and cost-effective compared to active simulators.

Implementation Method 1

The inductive loop produces the electro-magnetic field, and such sensors further include means for utilizing changes in the electro-magnetic field to activate the control system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

causing sufficient disturbance of the electro-magnetic field to activate the vehicle detection sensor when the tire equipped with the conductive tire liner passes over the roadway induction loop

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field interaction: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS8212690B1Vehicle detection inductive loop activation device

Publication Date: 2012.07.03 PARTIN EDWIN

AI summary

A passive activator, used in combination with a vehicle sensing arrangement in a roadway, includes an electrically conductive material such as a wire mesh and placed inside or within a vehicle tire. The electrically conductive material portion forms a closed loop. The electrically conductive material portion may also include a protective layer or liner to prevent damage to the tire or to an inner tube of the tire. The passive activator causes sufficient disturbance of the electro-magnetic field to activate a vehicle detection sensor located in a roadway when a tire equipped with the passive activator passes over the roadway induction loop.